The Game of Schools did make me stop and think about what schools really are teaching. I know from experience that a lot of times the work that we did was not really the most effective. This “busy work” was less prevalent once I got into higher classes such as honors or AP courses.
The lessons from school that have had the most lasting impact were not homework assignments or work sheets that most teachers have given at some point it time, but the moments when I had to use my creativity and thoughts to create meaning behind a lesson or idea.
I think that the importance of standardized tests does stifle the creativity of both students and teachers. It seems however, that these tests are a necessary part of today’s schools, and while I do not agree that they are the best strategy, while they are here, teachers have to adapt and make lessons incorporating ideas more interactive, and therefore more memorable.
The lessons from school that have had the most lasting impact were not homework assignments or work sheets that most teachers have given at some point it time, but the moments when I had to use my creativity and thoughts to create meaning behind a lesson or idea.
I think that the importance of standardized tests does stifle the creativity of both students and teachers. It seems however, that these tests are a necessary part of today’s schools, and while I do not agree that they are the best strategy, while they are here, teachers have to adapt and make lessons incorporating ideas more interactive, and therefore more memorable.